Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Terra Cotta Warriors {Man Up - A Father's Day Series & Giveaway}

My writing ministry has mostly been geared toward women, though we gladly welcome our male readers. Recently God placed on my heart to do a series for men. Something to encourage men and lead them to resources that are just for them. Since I'm not a guy {my husband is pretty happy about that fact}, I asked a few guys to write some manly encouragement just for men. So men, make sure you hang around this week as you will be challenged and inspired. And ladies, lead your men here!

Share this great series and giveaway with all of the men in your family and be sure to check back on Saturday for great resources!

Today is day 1 in the Man Up series and I am thrilled to have the husband of one of my best friends with us, Tom Davis. Tom has an incredible story {which you will read part of in his bio} and I know his words will encourage you. Please help me welcome Tom.

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in
Jerusalem:

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from

all their labors at which
they toil under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

Last Summer, we
took a family trip and one of our stops was to the Indianapolis Children's
Museum. Their showcase display was of
the "Terra Cotta Warriors." If
you don't know, the first emperor of China built approximately 8,000 of these
clay warriors in China and then they were buried until recently. Each one is molded out of this local clay and
then given individual features, weapons, and a custom paint job. This army is complete with infantrymen,
archers, generals, calvary, horse drawn wagons, civil employees, and
entertainers. The army is buried in
several tombs across the countryside and also includes a massive palace for the
emperor. It really is an impressive feat
considering the Emperor was just 13 when construction began and that it was
constructed around 200 BC.

It is believed
that Emperor Chin built these for 3 reasons:

1. as a show of his glory

2. to remember the army that triumphed over the
other Warring States to unite China

3. because it was believed that objects like
statues can be animated in the afterlife, and because Qin Shihuang required an
after-death army.

It is estimated
that it took 35 years and over 700,000 workers to build this army.I did some research online and everyone has
raved about this massive find, calling it one of the greatest finds of the 20th
century.

While I was
greatly impressed by the exhibit and the grand scheme of all of this, when
leaving all I could think of is, "What a tremendous waste of time, money,
and resources."

Emperor Chin was
credited with other great contributions to society including standardizing
weights and measurements and building the first part of the Great Wall of
China. But, I just try to imagine what
this emperor could have accomplished and contributed to the world had he
dedicated the time, money, and resources to something useful. Every one of us has been blessed with certain
talents and gifts. Obviously, Emperor
Chin's was being a leader. But, he was
also filled with paranoia, vanity, and obsession.

When I look at my
talents and gifts, I like to think Paralympic cycling is one of them.Last year, I won two National Championships,
rode for the US National Paracycling Team, and took a 5th place and
10th place in the UCI World Championships.I ended up being ranked 11th in
the world for my sport class.But,
winning medals and jerseys are not the reason that I do it.My medals sit in a box in my closet.

If I don't use my
talents, gifts, and resources to know Christ more, to help others know Christ,
and show them the love of Christ, then my talents and gifts are just as
meaningless as these clay warriors.My
talents and gifts might as well be buried too.

Instead, I try to
help others become better or just learn the sport, I try to use my success to
motivate others to overcome challenges in their lives, and I use paracycling to
share my testimony.I do this because of
one of my favorite scriptures:

Do all things to the glory of
God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, what are
other Terra Cotta Warriors? What are my
obsessions that I put before my relationship with Christ? Material things, family, job, hobbies,
sports? None of these things, in
themselves, are bad. Yet, if they hold
more importance to us than Christ, then they are meaningless.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the
surpassing

worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost

all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

Philippians
3:8

If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother,

wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—

such a person
cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry

their cross and follow me
cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26, 27 NIV

Tom Davis grew up in Michigan and graduated with honors from
Northwood University in 1999 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business
Management.After working several jobs in Management, he realized that
it wasn’t the right path for him.Ever
since College, his focus was more on partying and excess.After college Tom began to run into trouble
with the law.In order to make a better
life for himself, he decided to join the Army in 2002.Tom immediately excelled in everything the military had to
offer.He deployed to Iraq twice and was
promoted to Staff Sergeant before he retired.Tom was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in 2005-2006, quite literally the most
dangerous place on Earth at the time.On June 3rd, 2006, the Humvee that Tom was
commanding was destroyed by a roadside bomb.He received multiple serious injuries including the loss of his left
leg, broken arms, concussion, PTSD, and TBI.However severe these were, nothing compares to the loss of his Gunner on
that night, SPC Brett Tribble.Tom spent 15 months at Walter Reed Military Hospital where
he was introduced to a handcycle.At the
time, it was just a form of exercise and therapy but it turned into much more.After his handcycle spent
3 years in a storage shed, Tom was praying one day and heard God telling him to
get the bike out and ride it to glorify God.He has been doing it ever since.Since 2011, Tom has competed in over 50 races
across the world.He was won every
marathon he has ever competed in and has raced for the US National Paralympic
Team in Europe and at the 2014 World Championships.He was ranked 11th in the world in
2014.But, Tom believes that it’s not about wins or medals.But, it’s more what you do with them.He has mentored other handcyclists, held
racing clinics, and given motivational speeches.He has spoken in schools, community
organizations, youth groups, and in Churches – sharing his message of hope and
his faith in Jesus Christ.Tom is from Fremont, Indiana where he currently lives
with his wife and four children. You can follow along with Tom on his paracycling journey on Facebook.

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